Mizpah in Gilead (Genesis)
Encyclopedia
Mizpah is a place in Gilead
, so named by Laban
, who overtook Jacob
at this spot (Gen. 31:49) on his return to Israel from Padan-aram. Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of stones and a pillar (Massebah) to serve to separate them: both as a boundary landmark and as a witness for their covenant and the protection of Laban's daughters Rachel and Leah.
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
, so named by Laban
Laban (Bible)
Laban is the son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah and the father of Leah and Rachel and Bilhah and Zilpah as described in the Book of Genesis. As such he is brother-in-law to Isaac and both father-in-law and uncle to Jacob...
, who overtook Jacob
Jacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
at this spot (Gen. 31:49) on his return to Israel from Padan-aram. Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of stones and a pillar (Massebah) to serve to separate them: both as a boundary landmark and as a witness for their covenant and the protection of Laban's daughters Rachel and Leah.